Whilst there is background evidence to support the policy formulation around the defined areas of the proposed strategic gaps, specifically, in relation to the Bexhill-Hastings/St Leonards proposed Strategic Gap, Hastings Borough Council believes it will be helpful to state that at the present time we are continuing to discuss the potential for a substantial sports development on HBC owned land at Bexhill Road within Rother District. Without prejudice to any future planning application we believe that such a scheme is potentially capable of significantly improving the sporting/leisure provision for both Hastings and Bexhill; providing new homes and achieving financial, health and employment gains, all of which are strategically important objectives for this Council.

At this time discussions are on-going, but planning applications, which will need to be considered by both authorities, are yet to be submitted. We recognise that the scale of development likely to be proposed may trigger the 'exception' test which is not only part of the proposed Policy DEN3 but is already adopted Policy (Rother Local Plan, Policy DS5 (adopted in 2006)).